Premier League - Round-up: Liverpool held

Eurosport - Thu, 23 Jul 10:13:00 2009

Liverpool drew 1-1 against Thailand in a pre-season friendly at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.

2009 Liverpool Ryan Babel - 0

Ryan Babel put Liverpool ahead on six minutes, but a well worked Sutee Sumsomkit strike on 72 minutes gave Peter Reid's Thailand the draw.

Thailand had the first sight of goal with just a minute on the clock when Diego Cavalieri's poor clearance fell straight to Datsakorn Thonglao but he shot wide from 30 yards with the Liverpool keeper scrambling back towards goal.

The visitors took the lead when Jamie Carragher hit a long diagonal ball that picked out Babel's run after he had got in front of Suree Sukha. The Dutchman's touch took him away from the defender before he beat keeper Kosin Hathairattanakul with a low finish.

Babel could have doubled the lead five minutes later when Krisztian Nemeth collected a weak headed clearance and played the winger in down the left but Kosin got down well to block. He had another chance after 20 minutes when he met Lucas's perfectly flighted ball from the left in space at the far post but cushioned his volley wide.

Datsakorn then fired a 25-yard free-kick over the bar as the Thais were unable to convert a decent amount of possession into clear chances. Liverpool made a host of changes at the break but Martin Skrtel lasted only 10 minutes before limping off and fellow substitute Nabil El Zhar was replaced two minutes later.

Javier Mascherano warmed Kosin's hands with a stinging drive but the second half was proving a low-key affair until the 71st minute when the hosts equalised.

Sutee played a neat one-two with Teerasil Dungda and the former's left-footed finish found the bottom corner beyond substitute keeper Peter Gulacsi's outstretched hand.

Andrea Dossena was sent clear by Andriy Voronin following a swift interchange but shot straight at Kosin before the Ukrainian wasted a glorious chance nine minutes from time when put clean through by Fernando Torres but missed from 10 yards and Glen Johnson curled an effort wide in injury time as Thailand held on.

Wigan lost 2-0 to Romanian Champions League qualifiers FC Timiosara in their second friendly in Austria.

Both goals came in the opening 18 minutes as Roberto Martinez's side paid for lapses in concentration.

Arman Karamyan put the Romanians ahead in the 11th minute when he found space on the edge of the area to fire low past goalkeeper Chris Kirkland's left hand. Gigel Bucur added the second from close range after being left unmarked.

Martinez, who made nine substitutions at half-time, was not disheartened by the result despite it being their third friendly without a win.

"What interests me is how the players performed on the day and this was another fantastic training exercise against a team who were fitter than us and gave us a real challenge," he told the wiganlatics.co.uk.

"I think we took another big step forward and I was pleased with a lot of aspects of our game. Although I was disappointed with the way we conceded the goals they came from basic defensive errors and we can work on preventing those sort of mistakes happening again."

Wolverhampton Wanderers lost 2-1 to League Two Port Vale, with goals from Doug Loft and Rob Taylor overcoming a weakened Wolves team for whom Matt Jarvis got on the scoresheet.

The evening was further marred for Mick McCarthy by the news that record signing Kevin Doyle will miss the start of the season following hernia surgery.

A Tottenham XI lost 3-1 to Aldershot as Kyle Naughton made his first appearance for the club. Spurs were well beaten, but Naughton delivered a cross for Danny Rose to net a late consolation.

PA Sport

Comment 29 - 48 of 48

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  1. eric cantona did it in front of millions of people ­ eric cuntona eric cuntona
    keep going on about stevie g­ look closer to home to c a bloke who should of went­ down for g b h you manc @#$%

    From alanf, on Sat 25 Jul 10:31AM

  2. eric cantona did it in front of millions of people ­ eric cuntona eric cuntona
    keep going on about stevie g­ look closer to home to c a bloke who should of went­ down for g b h you manc @#$%

    From alanf, on Sat 25 Jul 10:31AM

  3. Matthew K, good post mate! United fans are getting­ concerned because our team has improved over the past­ 14 months. We gave them a lot of problems last season.­ Without CRonaldo around, things could get really­ interesting this year...... hence their­ worries...
    Finally their so called interest should be­ taken as a sign of respect!! That is what it is....

    From Richard, on Thu 23 Jul 10:04AM

  4. It could be worse guys, we could have OW£N back in our­ team hahahaha

    From Barcelona 2 0 Manchester United, on Thu 23 Jul 9:56AM

  5. As a Liverpool fan I really couldn't care less if­ we're drawing or losing early pre-season games, I­ remember a couple of years back and LFC lost 5-0 to­ some low ranked German team I think it was. They mean­ nothing, it's all about fitness with youngsters and­ reserves having their time to shine.

    The last couple­ of pre-season games - with 9 or 10 first team players­ is when the performances matter as they are fighting­ for the league starting places.

    And one more thing -­ why do so many Utd fans (not all, as many are decent)­ but the numpties feel the need to comment on a mainly­ LFC article? It baffles me. Some of you seem obsessed­ with Liverpool which is a little sad...

    I thank you.

    From Matthew, on Thu 23 Jul 9:53AM

  6. James D, you realize Torres took a 50 grand a week pay­ decrease to come to Anfield?! Torres to leave LFC?­ (laughs) Anyone that knows anything about LIVERPOOL FC­ knows that just wont happen! End of story....
    Also he­ is an Athletico kid.... only club that can offered him­ realistically is Real Madrid..... simply like Stevie G­ joing Everton.... sorry to break news.... it just­ won't happen....

    From Richard, on Thu 23 Jul 9:48AM

  7. Preseason is about getting the players fitter and­ finding out if any of the younger players are good­ enough to be included in the first team squad on a­ regular basis. I have watched all three games and my­ opinion is that our youngsters are simply not ready for­ the big time...

    From Richard, on Thu 23 Jul 9:40AM

  8. Thailand kinda strong...Hehehe...They fight well in­ their games...

    From FaRwAnZ, on Thu 23 Jul 9:32AM

  9. oh noo! we are not winning our pre-season FRIENDLIES!­ we are DOOMED!.....oh wait...they don't count. lol

    From the_smiths_rule, on Thu 23 Jul 7:22AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Gerrard come to united, liverpool is finished. Glory­ Glory man united

    From HAMMAD, on Thu 23 Jul 4:38AM
  11. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    He's my favorite.... But to my surprise!!!!!!!!!!!!­ I just saw him on _____LovingRich * COMe­ webSite________.Is he Sing-le again?
    GOOGLE it and you­ will be surprised!

    ~He's with a hot bikini-BABY on­ the photos..What's he looking for there?

    I am very­ curious~~~~~.
    _________

    From andy.li16, on Thu 23 Jul 12:34AM

  12. im a lfc fan but the mancs are right too many draws and­ below par bench, ngog should ngog back to psg and sell­ that ugga vorinon if anyone is mad enough to buy him,­ need to cash in on Alonso or Masch and buy a goal­ scorer maybe silva, we dont concede many anyway but­ need another attacking option. PS Lucas if your reading­ ,your about as popular as a swine flu victim, pizz off

    From Darren, on Wed 22 Jul 10:40PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Liverpoo cant beat Thailand HAHAHAHAHAHA no wonder­ Alonso and Mascherano wants to leave this joke of a­ team

    From rafascrackingup, on Wed 22 Jul 9:44PM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    It's only a matter of time before Torres quits.

    From James D, on Wed 22 Jul 9:12PM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Gerrard United. I rest my case. Gerrard is the only­ real player who makes a difference for liverpool.

    From chelseaboy, on Wed 22 Jul 8:05PM

  16. Peter Ellison,
    The problem with people like you is you­ just can't button it, like it or not, put your head­ in the sand if you will, but Rafa's rant went an­ awful long way to loosing Liverpool their best shot at­ the EPL and I hate to ruffle your perfect feathers but­ they put so much effort in to having a go last season­ that this year they will most likely find it a whole­ lot harder.

    From Pete H, on Wed 22 Jul 8:04PM

  17. Isn't it funny how the hapless mancs are pinning­ their hopes on 2 ex-Merseyside players for next season?­ You make idiots out of yourselves when you are heard­ singing Merseyside hate chants followed by rooney­ rooney. There are also a lot of people who don't­ understand the game of football when they are critical­ of LFC's warm up games featuring some kids, some­ reserves and fringe players and a few out of fitness­ first teamer's. We shall see. The smell of fear­ from the mancs and chelski is so strong it's­ overwhelming, and encouraging.

    And yes manc-chester,­ Merseyside will be watching next season, with glee.

    From opeths_ghost, on Wed 22 Jul 7:44PM

  18. Chill,

    I guess someone bought a huge amount of­ Playstations and then realized he didn't need them?

    From Winston Bunn, on Wed 22 Jul 7:25PM

  19. Why is every topic full of posts about free playstation­ @#$%

    From Chill, on Wed 22 Jul 7:16PM

  20. LIVERPOOL HELD, Nice job Rafa, I guesss this was­ SAF's fault also. Can't wait for your first­ RANT of the new season. Oh...by the way...Transfer­ window is still open....Maybe you would like to get­ some help....just saying!

    From rjpanzarino, on Wed 22 Jul 7:13PM
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